Dorothy M Neddermeyer

Sexual Abuse Recovery - Choosing the Right Professional



Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008

by
Genesis Consultants, Inc.

Sexual abuse does not heal itself. Time, marriages, children, success, wealth, buying a bigger house, or faster car, changing jobs or relocating will not CURE it. The damages are deep, pervasive and profound. It is a soul injury. The survivor is robbed of his or her innocence, core identity and trust. It is 'violence' that does not require force. The child is thrown into a state of shock. For some the memories remain conscious, while others drive them beneath the conscious level. These coping mechanisms are carried into adulthood and impact the person's life on every level.

If a professional asks: "What is wrong with you?" or "What happened to you?" find another professional. Asking, "What is wrong with you?" or "What happened to you?" implies blame, sickness and fault. Asking, "What did you experience growing up?"-allows the person to begin the process of discovering the source of their pain and healing the wounds.

1. What is your approach to the recovery process? The basic recovery process is: Discovery, Heal, Discovery, Heal. Processing feelings and uncovering the layers of pain--"Going into the Pain to get out of the Pain." "There is no gain without pain." If the professional is unable to give you a process similar to this, thank the professional for their time and call another professional.

2. Do you allow short phone conversations (10 - 15 min.) between sessions? If the answer is, "NO." Thank the professional for their time and call another professional. Being able to have short phone conversations between sessions is paramount to the survivor's ability to develop the deep level of trust required to go through the healing process. Furthermore, people aren't only in pain on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The recovery process is a 24/7 proposition, the professional's support between sessions is critical to recovery.

3. What are the critical emotional issues in the recovery process? The correct answer is: Processing Anger/Rage, Sadness, Guilt, Humiliation and Shame. If the professional is unable to readily list these five emotions, Thank the professional for their time and call another professional.

4. What tools and techniques do you use to facilitate the recovery process? If the professional is trained in sexual abuse recovery, he or she will name all of the following techniques: Guided Imagery, Therapeutic Journaling, Dream Analysis, Using Affirmations, Using the book, "The Courage to Heal Workbook" by Laura Davis, Hypnosis/regression, Cell Memory Releasing.

5. The following techniques, or some variation, are optional, but highly recommended:

Meditation

Exercise

Dance

Music

Movement Therapy

What is the difference between treating 'symptoms' and treating 'root cause?' Treating symptoms focuses on the symptomatic coping mechanisms the survivor used to survive the pain, i.e. drug/alcohol abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, co-dependency, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, arthritis, cancer, MS, sexual addiction, etc. Treating 'root cause' focuses on the experience the survivor endured-the sexual abuse and the ensuing aftereffects. Uncovering the pain and healing the emotions associated with that pain. Note: Question above regarding the emotions indigenous to sexual abuse. See aftereffects list - http://www.gen-assist.com

Last, but not least, if the professional fails to answer any one of these questions with similar or exact answers thank him or her for his or her time and call another professional. http://www.gen-assist.com DorothyNed@gmail.com

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD as an inspirational leader empowers people to see life's issues as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. Author, If I'd Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, she is noted for her pioneering work in verbal, physical, sexual abuse prevention and recovery. www.gen-assist.com
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, has 33 years experience with healing, personal development and peak performance. She developed a unique process to Transform Your LIfe. This process teaches people how to consciously access their innate power to both heal illnesses and blockages and to create unlimited success. www.drdorothy.net

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by James P Krehbiel
 3 years 293 days ago.
125 fans.
Dorothy, I respectfully submit that to preclude other therapeutic modalities from your list, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and to include any form of regression therapy would preclude me from seeing such a therapist for sexual abuse.
» left by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer
from Arizona 3 years 292 days ago.
James: Thank you for your comment. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify misconceptions. In a comparative study published in American Health Magazine, the effectiveness of three modalities were revealed as follows: Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after 6 sessions In the 27 years I have been in practice, I concur these results are highly accurate. The majority of SAS who come to me have been to 3 or more Behavior therapists and/or Psychoanalysts with little recovery. Within 6 to 10 hypnosis sessions the person has reached signifcant recovery or completed the recovery process. I wish you well in all your endeavors. Best Regards, Dr. Dorothy Best Regards,
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